Uraloğlu: We Will Commission 2 Tugboats and 6 Boats by 2025
Foreks - The Minister of Transport and Infrastructure, Abdulkadir Uraloğlu, announced that by putting the Rescue 19 and 20 tugboats into service, the number of vessels in the Coast Guard General Directorate's fleet has been increased to 102. Minister Uraloğlu stated, “We will also put 2 tugboats and 6 service boats into operation in 2025.”
Uraloğlu made these remarks during the delivery ceremony of the Rescue 19-20 Tugboats. Starting his speech with wishes for the new year, Minister Uraloğlu said, “Every new year offers us fresh starts and new opportunities to reach hopeful, bright tomorrows and new goals. I would like to congratulate the esteemed nation’s new year in your person and pray to God for it to be a means of goodness for all humanity.”
“Our Seas Are Our Blue Homeland” Recalling the famous words of historian Ibn Khaldun, “Geography is destiny,” Uraloğlu emphasized, “The seas surrounding these lands along with ancient Anatolia are our destiny as well. Our seas are our Blue Homeland, and today, under the leadership of our President, a son of a sea captain, Turkey is shaping the future of both our geography and global maritime trade.”
Minister Uraloğlu highlighted that all the projects and works implemented by the Ministry responsible for maritime affairs have proudly raised Turkey's position in the international maritime arena. He continued, “Today we are talking about a Turkey that is among the pioneering countries in maritime affairs. In terms of maritime trade, our Turkish-owned commercial fleet of 1,000 Gross Tons and above ranks 11th in the world. Our goal for 2025 is to take this success even further and bring Turkey into the top 10 countries in the world rankings.”
Cargo Handled Increased by 2.5 Times in 22 Years Providing information about the amount of cargo handled at ports, Minister Uraloğlu stated, “In 2023, we reached 525 million tons, an increase of approximately 2.5 times over the last 22 years. Container transport increased fourfold during the same period, rising to 12.6 million TEU. Our ports of Ambarlı, Kocaeli, Mersin, and Tekirdağ ranked among the top 100 ports in the world for container handling.”
Emphasizing that they provide training at international standards through 105 accredited training institutions, Uraloğlu remarked that they are strengthening the qualified human resources in the global maritime sector with over 1 million amateur sailors and 141,000 maritime personnel.
Minister Uraloğlu also emphasized the enhancement of cooperation in the maritime sector via the bilateral maritime agreements signed with 38 countries, stating that the recent equivalency protocol signed with Spain has facilitated a wider market presence for maritime personnel in the international market.
“1.9 Million Vessels Passed Through Our Straits in the Last 20 Years” Highlighting the importance placed on navigation, safety of life and property, and environmental safety, Minister Uraloğlu said, “We know that our country, which holds control over the most important straits in the world, the Istanbul and Çanakkale Straits, is key for maritime transportation and international trade activities of countries in the Mediterranean and Black Sea basins.”
Minister Uraloğlu noted that the Turkish Straits are significant waterways and energy transition corridors for the entire world, primarily in the economic basins of the Black Sea and Mediterranean, sharing the following data regarding heavy shipping traffic: “By the end of November 2024, 80,421 vessel movements are expected, with 38,141 through the Istanbul Strait and 42,280 through the Çanakkale Strait. Thus, the number of vessels that have passed through our straits in the last 20 years has reached 1.9 million. This year, 329 million tons of cargo, including 959 million tons of hazardous cargo such as oil, were transported by these vessels in 11 months. By the end of the year, we expect to surpass 1 billion tons.”
In the last five years, there has been a consistent increase in the number of vessels, particularly those larger than 250 meters, Uraloğlu noted. “In fact, just last Thursday, a 274-meter tanker named CORDELIA MOON encountered a mechanical failure while navigating towards the Black Sea, posing a significant risk. However, our guiding captain, along with KURTARMA-8 and KURTARMA-10 Tugboats from the Coast Guard General Directorate, swiftly responded and secured the tanker, successfully anchoring it at the Ahırkapı anchorage.”
“We Are Increasing Investments to Strengthen the Coast Guard General Directorate” Minister Uraloğlu expressed that the ministry is rapidly continuing investments aimed at enhancing navigation safety, safety of life and property, and environmental security in Turkey's waters against hazardous situations.
Uraloğlu stated, “We are further increasing investments that will develop and strengthen our Vessel Traffic Services Centers and the Coast Guard General Directorate. The growth strategy in our country's maritime trade aims for us to have a more significant voice internationally in the maritime sector. This strategy does not only focus on commercial growth but also aims to maintain the highest standards of maritime safety, environmental protection, and security.”
“In the First 11 Months of 2024, 934 People Were Rescued in 225 Operations” Minister Uraloğlu mentioned that the Coast Guard General Directorate continually adapts to evolving technology and strengthens its fleet to fulfill its responsibilities and duties at the highest level. Uraloğlu pointed out that “Guidance services were provided by the Coast Guard General Directorate to 61.3% of the 38,141 vessels that passed through the Istanbul Strait and to 51.5% of the 42,280 vessels that transited the Çanakkale Strait, totaling 45,176 vessels. Again, in the first 11 months of 2024, through 225 search and rescue operations, 934 people were rescued. During the same period, we successfully carried out 25 vessel rescue operations.”
“We Increased the Number of Vessels in Our Fleet to 102” Emphasizing the importance of constantly keeping the fleet of the Coast Guard General Directorate young and expansive with new vessels, Uraloğlu continued, “To this end, we conducted tenders for 4 emergency response tugboats and 6 pilotage service boats to be built in Turkish shipyards within this year. We are putting 2 of these tugboats into service today. Thus, we have increased the number of vessels in our fleet to 102. The remaining 2 tugboats and 6 boats will be put into service in 2025. In addition, we plan to conduct the tenders for 2 emergency response tugboats, 6 pilotage service boats, and 16 multipurpose fast rescue boats in 2025.”
The newly constructed tugboats will play an effective role in enhancing emergency response and rescue operation capabilities, contributing significantly to the Directorate’s maritime safety and environmental protection efforts. Uraloğlu stated, “With the addition of Rescue 19 and Rescue 20, our fleet is further strengthened, demonstrating our country’s determination and strength in the maritime sector. These tugboats are built domestically and equipped with modern technology. They will be ready 24/7 to respond to any emergencies alongside our expert and experienced personnel, who carry out their duties with environmental sensitivity and dedication to human life, even under the harshest conditions of our seas.”
$400 Million Investment Over 22 Years Minister Uraloğlu noted that they have invested $400 million in the Coast Guard General Directorate over the last 22 years, stating, “Of this investment, $297 million was allocated for maritime vehicles. As a return on these investments, we expect to earn approximately $135 million from tugboats alone in 2024.”
In addition to domestic tugboats, Uraloğlu mentioned that they localize the fleet and technology by providing safer maritime traffic with domestically produced electronic lights, buoys, signaling systems, and radars. He remarked, “Our current current measurement system, developed in collaboration with TÜBİTAK Marmara Research Center, was established in the Istanbul Strait in 2017 to minimize risks from vessel traffic. Now, we are at the stage of implementing the same system in the Çanakkale Strait. We renewed our Turkish Straits Vessel Traffic Services System, including radar and electro-optical systems, in 2022. Additionally, within three years, we will nationalize eight of the ship traffic radar systems we currently use, which were developed by ASELSAN.”
Uraloğlu also noted that within a program, they have restored 488 lighthouses, including 42 historical ones, guiding and illuminating sailors throughout Turkey to enhance maritime safety.
Recalling that they incorporated emergency response tugboats, Kurtarma 17 and Kurtarma 18, into the fleet last year, Uraloğlu added, “We are working hard both nationally and internationally for our maritime industry and shipbuilding sector to achieve much better positions. The key to gaining a competitive edge in the global market lies in superiority in technology, R&D, and innovation. Thankfully, our country's shipyards have succeeded in being at the forefront with competitive modern designs and trend-setting vessels. The innovative approach of our sector towards projects and initiatives that can utilize environmentally friendly and alternative energy sources is increasing interest in our country. Especially the tugboats built for both domestic and international markets are being closely monitored in foreign markets. The innovative, environmentally friendly, and alternative energy capabilities of our shipbuilding industry are continually increasing its competitiveness and making significant contributions to the national economy through its export capacity.”